Aqueous alkylation process

Abstract

This invention relates to a process for alkylation at carbon and phosphorus sites in an aqueous medium using precious metal catalysts containing sulfonated triarylphosphines (STP) of the generic formula P(C 6 H 4 SO 3 --)X(C 6 H 5 )Y (X+Y=3).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An improved alkylation process wherein an aqueous soluble Group VIII catalyst containing an arylsulfonated phosphine ligand is contacted under catalytic conditions, in the aqueous phase with an aryl or vinyl halide. 
     
     
       2. A catalytic process for preparing arylalkynes, vinylalkynes, biaryls or arylalkenes comprising reacting an aryl halide or vinyl halide having the formula: ##STR7## with a compound having the formula: ##STR8## wherein: R, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10  and R 11  are each independently hydrocarbyl, hydrocarboyl, aryl, heteroaryl or heteroalkyl; X is a halide;   Y and Z are OH or are independently selected from groups which are hydrolyzed in water to OH; under an inert atmosphere in the presence of base and a catalytic amount of a low-valent Pd complex, wherein:     the Pd complex comprises Pd(A) n  R 13   m  and Pd(A) n , wherein: A is sulfonated aryl phosphine ligand moiety;   R 13  is a phosphine, arsine, or olefin;   n and m are each independently 1 to 4; provided that when one reactant is HC.tbd.CR 4 , a catalytic amount of a copper (I) salt, such as copper halide or copper nitrate, is additionally present.       
     
     
       3. The process of claim 2 wherein the catalytic amount of palladium is 1-20 mol %. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 2 wherein the halide is bromide or iodide.